Equine Instructor Certification

Horseback riding has become an increasingly popular sport, and with a wide range of competitive events available to young and old equestrians alike, there is always a need for qualified, professional instructors and trainers. Teaching people to ride horses requires years of experience working with horses. Having a teaching certification is also an important career step for serious riding instructors, because most insurance companies do not cover instructors who are not certified.

  1. Certification

    • Riding instructor certification is available through several institutions, the American Riding Instructors Association and the Certified Horsemanship Association being the two primary certification centers. Certification through the Certified Horsemanship Association is available in English or Western riding style. Certification through the American Riding Instructors Association is available in a variety of categories. These categories are organized by discipline and include: Distance Riding, Dressage, Driving, Eventing, Hunt Seat, Mounted Patrol Training Officer, Recreational Riding, Reining, Saddleseat, Show Jumping, Stable Management, and Western: Pleasure & Equitation.

    Levels

    • The American Riding Instructors Association offers certification at three levels. The Certified Horsemanship Association offers certification at four levels, as well as a master level, and a certification for clinic instructors and assistant clinic instructors.

      According to the American Riding Instructors Association, level one instructors are certified as “instructors in training.” Level two instructors are certified to teach beginners through intermediates, and level three instructors are certified to teach beginner through advanced riders.

      The Certified Horsemanship Association has similar levels of certification. Their level four and master level instructors are qualified to teach high-performance riders preparing for competition and learning the intricacies of the horse industry, from barn management to training theory. The CHA also offers a clinic instructor and assistant clinic instructor certification, both of which require a master instructor certification as a prerequisite.

    Tests

    • Paper tests administered by the American Riding Instructors Association include a general exam as well as a specialty test. According to the ARIA, potential instructors first sit for the general exam, which tests their general knowledge, and then the exam in their specialty to test their understanding of their particular focus. Depending upon the level of certification the candidate is being tested for, practical tests involving working with horses in barn environments are also necessary. According to the Certified Horsemanship Association, CHA certification takes place over five to seven days and involves clinics, lessons and seminars as well as a written exam.

    Requirements

    • According to the ARIA requirements, candidates for certification at level one must be at least 18 years old, candidates for certification at level two must be 21 years old and candidates for certification at level three must be at least 25 years old. The CHA has a minimum age requirement of 16 for assistant certification and 18 for standard instructor certification. Both the CHA and the ARIA require that candidates go to specific test sites on the day or days of their clinics and examinations.

    Cost

    • The cost of certification testing through the ARIA is $595. Private testing is also available for $795. The CHA lists the prices for their certification clinics as between $400 and $700 based on level of certification.